Wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

v E. LONG.

WIRE STRETGEER. No; 322,460. Patented July 21, I885.

WITNESSES Attorney uvncnsmn Dc UNITED STATES PATENT Orrice.

EDWIN LONG, OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO EDMUND SHEPARD AND WILIJIAM B. OARPENTEROF SAME PLACE, AND REUBEN ELLWOOD AND ABRAM ELLWOOD, OF SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

{SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,460, dated July 21 1885.

I Application filed March 3, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN LONG, of Iowa City, in the county of Johnson and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in W'ire-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

0 My invention relates to an improvement in devices for stretching wire, the object being to provide an effective wire-stretching device which can be conveniently taken to the top of a pole, building, or other position more or less diflicult of access, a further object being to provide a wire-stretching device which is simple in construction, durable, and inexpensive.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as Will be fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective, and Fig. 2 is a plan view.

A represents a raclcbar, preferably flat, having ratchet-teeth or notches a on its opposite edges. The teeth or notches a are situated in such position with respect to each other that if any two successive teeth on the same edge be taken there will be a tooth on the opposite edge transversely opposite a point midway between the two aforesaid successive teeth. This arrangement of teeth I find the most simple and least expensive; but the bar might, if desired, be provided with. a series of teeth at short intervals on each edgeas sawteeth, for exampleand when so arrangedthe relative positions of the teeth on the opposite edges would be of little importance.

One end of the bar A is conveniently provided with a perforation, B, through which a chain, 1), or any other approved device is fastened for the purpose of securing the bar for operation.

The bar A is provided near its opposite end with outwardly-extending guides 0, one on each side of the said bar, through which guides the branches of the Ushaped connecting-rod D pass. The extremities. of the rod D are turned at right angles, to formpivotal bearings for an operating-lever, E. The lever E is constructed to embrace the barA, and is provided with two pawls, F and G, pivoted between the branches e of the lever E, on opposite sides of the bar A. The shape 5 3 of the pawls is such that when the handle of the lever is reciprocated the pawls F and G will alternately be caused to engage the teeth a. For example, suppose the pawl F to be engaged with one of the teeth a, and the han- 6o dle at right angles to the bar A. As the leverhandle is moved toward the perforated end of the bar A, the connecting-rod D will be drawn along the bar, and the heel of the pawl Gwill be gradually pressed against the edge of the bar A, thereby causing the point of the said pawl to engage a tooth in advance of the one holding-the pawl F. In this manner the rod D will be drawn along the barAat each stroke of the lever, the pawls automatically engaging the teeth on the bar A, as described. After the pawls have crept to the end of the bar A the lever may readily be slid to the opposite end of the bar by disengaging the pawls and holding the lever at right angles to the bar.

For the purpose of readily grasping a wire at any point a plate, H, is secured to the connecting-rod D. I find itconvenient to provide the plate H with a perforation, h, sufficiently large to loosely receive the wire of which the connecting-rod may be made, and slip the plate H on one of the branches of the rod D before attaching the said branch to the lever. The plate H is provided with two rotary cams, g g, pivoted on the same side of the plate and so situated as to take a frictional grip on the wire when the same is placed between them. It will readily be seen that the greater the strain on the wire the tighter will the grip become.

One of the cams, g, is provided with a handle, h, for the purpose of releasing the wire, when desired, by turning the cam back.

The advantages of the device herein described are self-evident, combining as it does strength, lightness, ready adjustment, effectiveness, and simplicity.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to em ploy a lever connected with a wire-clamping device in combination with a rack-bar, and also that liftingjacks have been provided with a lever having two pivoted pawls operating against serrated faces of the standard, and hence I make no broad claim thereto; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a Wire-stretcher, the combination, with a rack-bar having teeth on its opposite edges and provided with guides, of connecting-rods provided on their outer or free ends with devices for grasping and releasing the wire, a lever pivoted upon the opposite ends of the connecting-rods, and pawls pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage the teeth on oppo site sides of the rack-bar, substantially as set forth.

forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDVIN LONG.

Witnesses:

A. E. SWISl-IER, G. F. FLETCHER. 

